Heating system



June 22, 1937. c. G. BORDEAUX 2,084,571

HEATING SYSTEM Filed April 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN To@ 7a/a@O/weal/X Arran/v5 Ys vJune v2.2, 1937. c. G. BORDEAUX HEATING SYSTEM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1932 5) m ma ,drraP/Vs Ys Patented June22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 29,

11 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a steam heating systemutilizing a closed circuit and employing a relatively small amount ofuid. My invention is particularly useful for the heating of automobilesor other vehicles where the exhaust gases from the internal combustionengine may be utilized for heating although it will, of course, beunderstood that my invention is not limited to this particular use.

One of the objects of my invention is a heating system in which thepressure and the temperature are automatically maintained substantiallyconstant.

A further object of my invention is a heating system which is simple inconstruction and reliable in operation.

Other objectsof my invention will appear in the specification.

My invention will best be understood by referencev to the accompanyingdrawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment and inwhich- Fig. 1 is a side View partially broken away illustrating somewhatdiagrammatically a heating system embodying my-invention; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through a liquid'supplyv reservoir to whichthe water is conducted from the radiator;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a device comprising achamber to which the liquid is conducted from the supply reservoir andfrom which it is led to the heater;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lower portion of the pipe which leadsfrom the radiator to the liquid supply reservoir;

Fig. 5 is a side view partially in section of the connection leadingfromthe regulating chamber to the heater; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the check valve.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, IU is a steam generator which, in theembodiment illustrated, is in the form of a coil enclosed in a housingII forming a part of the exhaust pipe I2 leading from an internalcombustion engine.

The device embodying my invention may readily be applied to the ordinaryexhaust pipe I2 of an automobile. The exhaust pipe may conveniently becut as at I3 and the exhaust end I2I of the exhaust pipe may be moved tothe left, as viewed in Fig. 1 and the steam generator and associatedparts applied directly to the exhaust pipe. Section III which is in theform of a tube is secured by a flange II2 to the housing II and abutsagainst the cut section I2 of the exhaust pipe. The housing is alsoprovided with a sleeve H3, the end of which is preferably serrated as atII4 and is received over the exhaust end I2I 1932, Serial N0. 608,266

of the exhaust pipe and is frictionally secured thereto. The heater mayconveniently be secured to the pipe section I2 by a sleeve I I5 which issecured in position by a clamping collar H5.

The steam generator III is connected by a steam supp-ly pipe I4 to aradiator indicated generally at I5. While the particular form ofradiator constitutes no part of my present invention, I have, forconvenience of illustration, shown a radiator which comprises a coil orpipe I6 which extends back and forth across the radiator and to which isconnected a plurality of radiating ns Il'. Air may be forced over theradiator to the interior of a car by a ian iS which is driven by asuitable motor I9 which may be supported by brackets 2li which are inturn attached to the wall 2I of the body of a car. Adjustable vanes 22may be utilized for directing the air from the radiator to desiredpoints within the vehicle. The radiator is illustrated within the bodyof a car, and while the relations of the remaining portions of theheating system are not illustrated, it will be understood that they aremounted on the vehicle without the closed body.

The water supply reservoir 23, which is located at a lower level thanthe radiator, is connected thereto by a pipe 24 preferably jointed as at25 and extending to the lower portion of the reservoir, as best shown inFig. 2, the lower end of said pipe preferably being curved upwardly asat 24| and provided at its end with a seat 25 in which is received acheck valve 2l, preferably in the form of a ball. A cap 28 provided withopenings 29 may be secured to the end of the pipe by any suitable means,such as a cotter pin 30 and forms a housing forthe ball valve. The pipe24 is preferably welded to the wall of the reservoir as at 3l to form afluid-tight joint. The reservoir may conveniently be closed by a bottomplate 32 which is also welded around its periphery to the lower wall 33of the reservoir. It will be understood that the water level in thereservoir 23 is normally located above the bent end 24| of they inlettube.

In accordance with my invention, a device is interposedbetween theliquid supply reservoir and the steam generator for controlling the flowof water from the reservoir to the generator. In the embodiment of myinvention illustrated, such device comprises a chamber 34 connected by apipe 35 to the lower end of the supply reservoir 23. The bottom of thechamber 33 is closed by a plate 36 provided with a conical valve seat 3lagainst vwhich seats a poppet valve 33 which is mounted on the lower endof a valve stem 39, the valve being normally open. The upper end of thevalve stem, in the embodiment illustrated, is connected to the closingplate 4l) of a bellows diaphragm 4I which is located in said chamber andwhich is suitably secured to a cap 42. The

plate 40 normally rests against and is supported by standards itisecured to or integral with the bottom plate 36.

The cap 42 is provided with a screw-threaded opening d3 in which isreceived a suitable screwthreaded plug i4 provided with an opening 45 bywhich the interior of the bellows diaphragm communicates with theatmosphere. The plug 44 is preferably provided with a downwardlyextending stem 36 and a coil spring M surrounds said stem and engagesthe plug M; while the lower end thereof engages the lower closing platei0 of the bellows diaphragm. The compression in the spring 47 is soadjusted as normally to maintain the bellows diaphragm in expandedcondition but permits the collapse of the diaphragm when a predeterminedabnormal pressure is reached within the chamber Se.

While the ball valve 2l substantially prevents the return of uid fromthe reservoir to the radiator, it does not entirely prevent such returnfor the reason that in practice, there is always a slight amount of slowleakage between a valve and its seat, particularly aA ball valve of thecharacter illustrated. The same is true of the check valve 53hereinafter described. Such leakage eventually relieves the excesspressure in th-e supply reservoir. Furthermore, when the pressure in thegenerator drops due to the absence of water and the generation of steamtherein, there is a drop in pressure on the under side of the valve 3B,and such drop in pressure would create a variation in the differentialin pressure on opposite sides of the valve which would also tend to openthe valve.

The housing which encloses the chamber 3d is screw-threaded on itsinterior as at 48 and receives the screw-threaded end of a connectionMl, the end of which is preferably secured to one end of a check-valvecasing 5S, as by silver brazing. The steam generating coil is preferablyformed of a compound tubing comprising an inner tube 5l, which ispreferably formed of copper to withstand the corrosive effects of waterin the steam generator, and an outer tube 52 which is preferably formedof steel which is well adapted to withstand the corrosive effect of theexhaust gases. The tubular heating element is preferably formed byplacing a copper tube within the steel tube and then swaging the twotubes down together. The end of the copper tube is attached to the valvecasing as by silver brazing. The check valve, in the embodimentillustrated, comprises a ball valve 53 which normally rests against aseat 54. While I have described water as the liquid medium which isconverted into vapor in my system, it will, of course, be understoodthat other liquid media which are converted into vapor may be utilized.

The operation of the device embodying my invention will readily beunderstood from the foregoing description and is as follows- Water maybe introduced into the system through the joint 25 in the pipe 24 untilthe desired amount of Water has been received in the supply reservoir,the chamber 3d and in the steam generator iii. As heretofore stated, thedevice embodying my invention operates as a closed system and utilizes acomparatively small amount of water, for example, 7 cubic inches for anordinary automobile heater. The joint 25 is then closed and the systemis ready for automatic operation. As soon as the steam generator l0 issubjected to the hot gases Within the eX- naust manifold, the smallamount of water within the generator is vaporized and the steam isforced into the radiator. A substantially uniform pressure is thenpresent throughout the system. I have found 75 pounds to be a convenientoperating pressure when the device is used for heating an ordinaryautomobile although it will, of course, be understood that my invenntion is not limited to any given pressure.

It will be understood that the steam generator operates intermittentlyand flashes or vaporizes all of the water that is in the generator at agiven time. Now, as soon as the steam within the radiator condenses, thepressure within the radiator drops, for example to 72 pounds, when thesystem is operating at a normal pressure of 75 pounds, and the pressurein the steam gener ator also drops. The water level within the liquidsupply reservoir 23 is intermediate the top and bottom thereof so thatan air space is provided above the fluid therein. The original pressurewithin the supply reservoir 23 temporarily remains the same with theresult that a small amount of water is forced past the check valve 53into the generator. The water thus introduced is vaporized and the cycleof operations is repeated.

In case the temperature of the radiator and correspondingly the pressurewithin the radiator become unduly high due, for example, to the stoppingof the fan motor which forces air over the radiator, the abnormalpressure is transmitted to the liquid supply reservoir and. then to thechamber 3ft and causes the collapse of the bellows diaphragm andcorrespondingly the upward movement of the valve stern and the valve 38is seated to prevent further now of water from the chamber 34 to thesteam generator le. The dangerV of burning out the radiator which wouldotherwise be present, is, therefore, avoided.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it isto be understood that the words which I have used are words ofdescription and not of limitation and that changes within the purview ofthe appended claims may be made without departing from the true scopeand spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generatorcommunicating therewith. a liquid. supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than said radiator and Aat a higher level than said generator,means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and saidreservoir, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide anair chamber above the liquid therein, a check valve constructed andarranged to substantially prevent the return of fluid from saidreservoir to said radiator, means providing a communicating passagewaybetween said reservoir and said generator, and means responsive to apredetermined pressure in the air chamber of said reservoir forpreventing the flow of liquid therefrom to said generator.

2. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generatorcommunicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator,means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and saidreservoir through r which liquid flows by gravity, said reservoir beingconstructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquidtherein, a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially preuvent the return of'luid from said reservoir to said radiator, meansproviding a communicating passageway between said reservoir and saidgenerator, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in the airchamber of said reservoir for preventing the flow of liquid therefrom tosaid generator.

3. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a. vapor generatorcommunicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator,means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and saidreservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, said reservoir beingconstructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquidtherein, a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially preventthe return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator, meansproviding a communicating passageway between said reservoir and saidgenerator, a normally open automatic valve interposed between saidreservoir and said generator, and a pressure-actuated part forautomatically closing said valve whenever the pressure on the fluid insaid reservoir reaches a predetermined point.

4. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generatorcommunicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator,.means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and saidreservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, means providing acommunicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, acheck valve being interposed in the passage between said reservoir andsaid radiator constructed and arranged to substantially prevent thereturn of iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and meansresponsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventingthe iiow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

5. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generatorcommunicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator,means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and saidreservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, means providing acommunicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, acheck valve being interposed in the passage between said reservoir andsaid radiator constructed and arranged to substantially prevent thereturn of iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and means operablelwithin predetermined limits of pressure within said reservoir forcontrolling the flow of liquid therefrom to said generator and operableto prevent ow to said generator above said upper limit.

6. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator the outletof which communicates with the inlet of said radiator, a liquid supplyreservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higherlevel than said generator, means providing a communicating passagebetween said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir beingconstructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid,means providing communication between said reservoir and said generator,means for substantially preventing return of fluid from said reservoirto said radiator, and a check valve disposed between said reservoir andsaid generator and opening towards said generator.

'7. In a heating system, a vapor generator, a

vapor radiator located above said generator, the inlet of said radiatorcommunicating with the outlet of said generator, means for heating saidgenerator, a liquid supply reservoir located above said generator andbelow said radiator and communicating with said generator, a pipeconnecting said radiator to said reservoir and provided with a checkvalve constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return offluid from said reservoir to said radiator, said reservoir beingprovided with an air space permanently closed during normal operationand communicating with the liquid in said reservoir, and meansresponsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventingthe ow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

8. In a heating system, a Vapor generator, a vapor radiator locatedabove said generator, the inlet of said radiator communicating with theoutlet of said generator, means for heating said generator, a liquidsupply reservoir located above said generator and below said radiatorand communicating with said generator, a pipe connecting said radiatorto an intermediate portion of said reservoir, said pipe being providedwith a check valve opening toward said reservoir for substantiallypreventing the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiatorthereby forming an air space in the upper portion thereof, said airspace being permanently closed during normal operation, and meansresponsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventingthe flow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

9. In a heating system, a Vapor generator, means for heating saidgenerator with waste gases, a vapor radiator located above saidgenerator and communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir locatedabove said generator and below sai-d radiator and communicating witheach, said liquid supply reservoir being provided with an air spacepermanently closed during normal operation and communicating with theliquid in said reservoir, means for substantially preventing the returnof iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and means responsive to apredetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventing the iiow ofliquid from said reservoir to said generator.

10. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a

vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoirlocated at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level thansai-d generator, means providing a communicating passage between saidradiator and said reservoir, said reservoir being constructed andarranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid, means providingcommunication between said reservoir and said generator, and means forsubstantially preventing the return of fluid from said reservoir to saidradiator.

11. In a heating system, a Vapor radiator, a Vapor generatorcommunicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lowerlevel than sai-d radiator, means providing a communicating passagebetween said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir beingconstructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid,means providing communication between said reservoir and said generator,and means for substantially preventing the return of fluid from saidreservoir to said radiator.

CLAUDE G. BORDEAUX.

